03 WRX vs. Nissan SpecV

[fino22]

My buddy wants to race me in his Nissan Spec V. First off I have a catback exhaust, K&N drop in filter and Cobb AP stg. 1. He will have headers, racing pulley, balance shaft removal kit, nology hot wires and some iridiums. He also has some internal work done but not exactley sure what (I don't think anything serious). He is a manual and I am auto so I am just curious how I stand up to him and if I do finish off my exhaust and run stg. 2 how I will stand up to him. Just curious, thanks for your input

[WRXcelration]

you should have no problem w/ him at either stage in a straight line...they do handle well in the twisties

[MandoWRX]

I used to own an 02 Specv and I'm 100% sure you will be able to take him with no problems. The Specv has alot of low end Torque so it can take off fairly quickly, but still no match for AWD. Even with all his mods, he probably putting about 175HP max to the wheels and that's being generous. They do handle very well for a FWD car like WRXcelration said.

I'm sure my SpecV buddies would kill me if they saw me writting this

[DTR rex]

stage1 auto wrx vs bolt on SpecV.......... In the 1/4mile you should get him, by probably not by too much so do not become over confident. From a roll, it will be really close, and you should not be shocked if you get beat.

[AsianWRX]

Your auto won't do you much good off the line. He'll prolly take you til you til you boost takes over. It'll be tough to reel him in off the line but I think you can as they don't have that great of a top end either.

From a roll you shoudl be good as long as you're not in the wrong powerband. Your stg 2 should trap high 90's and a Spec will not come near that unless he is spraying or has a FI kit. The ones with a FI kit will give even a stg 2 STi a run for their money

P.S. Get a uppipe and downpipe for your car. I didn't realize you have only a catback. He'll def take you off the line if you don't open her up

[DTR rex]

From a roll you shoudl be good as long as you're not in the wrong powerband. Your stg 2 should trap high 90's and a Spec will not come near that unless he is spraying or has a FI kit. The ones with a FI kit will give even a stg 2 STi a run for their money

1) He is not stage2, he is stage1

2) Automatic stage1 wrx's do not trap high 90's. More like mid 90's tops.

3) SpecV properly driven will hit 92mph traps. Header and exhaust specV should be doing right around 94mph or so which is exactly where his stage1 auto probably is. Not to mention that if they go from a roll, the wrx will lose steam before the sentra does. It will be close, but I would not be the least bit suprised if the sentra puts some distance on him up top.

[fino22]

By the time we hit the track I will be at stage 2 (uppipe/downpipe). I am still enjoying my stage 1 reflash but am starting to get used to it and can honestly say I am itching to go stage 2. From what I can tell from stage 1 there is definatley an improvement in power hitting at least 14.7 psi when I need to so I cant wait to really see what she can do when I lose the cats. I have watched him drive it before and it does seem to jump off the line quick (given he gets a good launch) but seems to really top out quick kinda like my girlfriends Scion TC.

[fino22]

I did find out he also has Cams, dont know what this does for him but thought I would add that also.

[wrxaddicted]

By the time we hit the track I will be at stage 2 (uppipe/downpipe). I am still enjoying my stage 1 reflash but am starting to get used to it and can honestly say I am itching to go stage 2. From what I can tell from stage 1 there is definatley an improvement in power hitting at least 14.7 psi when I need to so I cant wait to really see what she can do when I lose the cats. I have watched him drive it before and it does seem to jump off the line quick (given he gets a good launch) but seems to really top out quick kinda like my girlfriends Scion TC.

you will take him if you are stage 2. make sure you flash the map a week or 2 in advance before the race.

[olsaltybastard]

Actually, it sounds like an interesting match. I used to have a Spec V, so I am well aware of how well bolt ons work. Since he removed his balance shafts and has a LW pulley, his engine is free to rev. He also has a close ratio 6 speed which is probably better for acceleration than your auto.

I'm gonna say the Spec V will come out on top, but since it is so close, I think you guys will need to do a "best out of 5" or something of the sorts.

[DTR rex]

I did find out he also has Cams, dont know what this does for him but thought I would add that also.

hmmmmmmmm.........

So he has basically exhaust bolt on's + removed balance shafts + light weight pullies + cams.

I dont know man. In the 1/4 you stand a good chance of beating him still, my money would go on the specV from a roll. The wrx automatic is not really known for great downshifts when racing at high speeds, and considering the specV will be reving like hell with his balance shafts out and cams, not to mention the trans and "olsaltybastard" said... I think from a roll you will get walked if you go higher speeds like 50-110 or 60-110, etc...

[04wrx4keeps]

I actually have a copy of Sport Compact Car, its the june 03 issue, where they get 35whp from "intake, header, ehxaust, camshafts and removed balance shafts", and that list is right off the dyno chart. They got 176whp and 172lb-ft. I would think that would be good for something like mid-high 14's and mid 90mph traps, probably a tiny little bit faster than a stock 05 RSX-S if he can launch well. As a Cobb Stage 1 I would say its in the bag if you were manual, but I'm not familiar with the auto at all (i've never personally met anyone that had one), but I could imagine that might make it very close. If your stage 2 when you run I would think even if the auto held you back some you would quickly pass him from a stop or a roll. With a 50whp advantage once your turbo spools you should be able to reel him in, A STG 2 + upipe can trap close to 100mph, I would guess the auto shouldnt take more than a few mph off this, correct me if I'm wrong. BTW Does the auto WRX break boost well? I know I've had friends with auto(I think they only made auto didnt they?) Grand-Nationals that would break boost at the line and get boost off the launch.

[Amplified2000]

A fully bolted Spec with cams/pully/bsr will walk a Cobb stage 1 WRX Auto if the driver has any skill whatsoever. Hell it would give a stage 1 manual a damn good run.

<--- Former Spec V owner

[DTR rex]

I actually have a copy of Sport Compact Car, its the june 03 issue, where they get 35whp from "intake, header, ehxaust, camshafts and removed balance shafts", and that list is right off the dyno chart. They got 176whp and 172lb-ft. I would think that would be good for something like mid-high 14's and mid 90mph traps, probably a tiny little bit faster than a stock 05 RSX-S if he can launch well. As a Cobb Stage 1 I would say its in the bag if you were manual, but I'm not familiar with the auto at all (i've never personally met anyone that had one), but I could imagine that might make it very close. If your stage 2 when you run I would think even if the auto held you back some you would quickly pass him from a stop or a roll. With a 50whp advantage once your turbo spools you should be able to reel him in, A STG 2 + upipe can trap close to 100mph, I would guess the auto shouldnt take more than a few mph off this, correct me if I'm wrong. BTW Does the auto WRX break boost well? I know I've had friends with auto(I think they only made auto didnt they?) Grand-Nationals that would break boost at the line and get boost off the launch.

well thats the thing. The auto wrx does not trap very well. He would be lucky to hit a mid 90's trap even as stageII. A specV with those mods will easily run mid 14's with a good driver and a stageII auto should be running very low 14's. So again, from a dig, I think as stageII you will win, stageI you will lose. From a roll though I think you will lose even as stageII. Granted, trap speeds are a good indication of topend power, BUT with an auto its a little different. Auto's start is first gear when they clear that trapspeed, and the wrx automatic is not exactly "advanced". So being a 4AT I think that he might have a little trouble with the auto downshifting really well... Not to mention that the SpecV will be reving high and has a much better gear box and due to being a close ratio 6speed manual can pick his gear and rpm really well before they run from a roll.
The wrx is making more power and the specV weighs about 350lbs less, but power to weight ratio the wrx is still on top. I think the specV's gearing and ability to chose its rpm is what is going to win it the race from a roll.

[04wrx4keeps]

Well deffinatly post the results once you race him, it should be interesting. I would think that a Stage 2 WRX auto would still be able to at least pull 13's, even if High 13's in the mid-upper 90's, but being a 4speed I guess it could just suck. Either way, win or lose let us know, I'm very curious to see what the actual outcome is.